Haybars

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mickey

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Has anyone used one of these?
I would prefer my horse not to have nets, but if I put on floor he mixes it in with his bed.
I am thinking about a haybar. Are these quite large? I like my horse to have ad-lib forage at night so he has a fair bit.
Any reports welcome.
Oh, one other question: Would it be safe if my horse rolled and bashed into it? I don't want any injuries!
 
i use one for my geldings, i shake up my haylage to stop him draging it round the bed it works well and it is big enough to keep my 16.1 going over night (ad lib)
 
where i went to college had some but they had made them much cheaper two strips of wood on wall and them between them a piece of wood cut in to triangle shape really worked and beds where much tidier and no messing with nets
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My horse is a pain and pulls all his hay out of his so its on the floor, then only what he doesn't tread on he will eat!!!!
 
we don't have haybars, but had a similar problem with them mixing the hay into their beds, so my dad made a hay trough for each stable.

He used old scaffolding planks, but guess you could use any sturdy planks. he made 4 legs with old fence posts (nails removed), then attached them together with boards to make a square, and used more boards to fill in the base.

works brilliantly, and they're easy enough to move and tip out the bits at the bottom! and they were much cheaper than a haybar!
 
I wanted one for ages, finally bought one and decided against it. My horse would rug his big bum against it and crack it for sure. Reckon the homemade wood or rubber ones are a much sturdier option. Just make sure they are high enough and leave a small gap at the bottom for seeds etc to fall out.
 
All of mine have haybars and they are fab! Only thing I would say is leave a gap at the bottom big enough to get a broom under and the pony ones are pretty big. Even our 15hh horses have pony size ones!

Our boys with sweetitch have them too, and we don't have a problem with them rubbing on them.
 
My 3 all have one. You can get a whole bale of hay in them if you want to. They don't eliminate wastage like the advert says but it does depend on the horse. I love just chucking the hay in them, no messing around with nets. Wouldn't be without mine.
 
They're brilliant but you do have to shake all the hay/haylage out as you fill the Haybar. With a haynet, you can stuff hay/haylage in any old how because the act of the horse pulling bits out through the holes separates it into bite sized bits. But loose in the Haybar, if the horse grabs hold of a big lump and turns away with it in his mouth, most will drop onto the floor. I speak as the owner of a Haybar AND a greedy ned who is physically unable to eat haylage if it has been in contact with the floor!
 
My HW cob loves hers. Yes, definately shake the hay out, or they will scoop/throw it out !! She uses hers as a "rubbing post" and its fine. As its in a wooden stable my husband just added extra screws to fix it on.

As well as leaving the gap, I've found a tub trug in the bottom is great for catching most of the "seeds" so I throw those out a couple of times a week (great for putting under a straw bed to soak up urine).

So a definate thumbs up from me, I wouldn't have a net again.
 
My 16.3 has ad lib haylage in hers.

Unfortunately she drags it out and mixes it with her bed anyway. Oh and she broke it the first night by biting the top edge (thank goodness for duct tape)

I find she scoops less out if I leave the haylage in slices.

Apart from that great.........
 
Hi Monkeynuts!
Whereabouts are you? I think it would cost a fotune to post!
Mixed reviews so I will have a think about getting one. Can I ask why you are selling?
 
QR - Thaks all for your very useful feedback, as I don't know anyone who has one. I saw a diagram on the internet for making your 'own'. Trouble is, my partner (and I) are rubbish at such things !
My horse has become cast a couple of times recently and I have a concern that he would get stuck under the bottom or smash it or even get injured?
Is the advantage over racks just the height/feeding level ?
 
My horse would eat it far to quick in a haybar, and hes a good doer so ad lib is not an option. He has always had haynets, small holed haynets that he has to work at to get his hay out, he has a physio every 6 weeks, and rarely has a bad back so haynets cant cause that many problems. x
 
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